Metro Detroit Oakland County City
Clawson
From "Pumachug" to small town: an old main corner, catalog homes, fireworks since 1933
- People (2025 estimate)
- 11,312
- Land area
- 2.2 sq mi · 5.7 km²
- From downtown
- 15.2 miles · 24 km · north
- Incorporated
- 1940
Nothing on our calendar here this week yet.
01 / Why it matters
Why Clawson matters
Clawson's heart is one corner: 14 Mile and Main. In the 1800s a cider mill and a sawmill worked here, and their "pum-a-chug" sound gave the settlement its first nickname, Pumachug. Back then 14 Mile was a township line, so half the village was in Troy Township and half in Royal Oak Township, all the way until 1920.
In 1899 the interurban railway arrived, running from Detroit up Woodward and through Royal Oak. Cheap fares and cheap lots meant you could work in Detroit and live out here, and plenty of families ordered their houses straight out of the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalog. Several of those kit homes are still standing.
Today Clawson does small-town celebrations right. Its Fourth of July has been a tradition since 1933, with a parade on 14 Mile and fireworks in Clawson City Park. Several downtown buildings date to the 1920s, and in summer a Saturday market fills the corner every other week.
02 / Known for
What Clawson is known for
The name mystery: legend credits a John C. Lawson, but the local museum says the story doesn't hold up.
Kit homes: several houses shipped in pieces by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Montgomery Ward still stand in Clawson.
Clawson's Fourth of July has been a tradition since 1933: parade, carnival and fireworks.
The Improvement Club, founded in 1903 and now the local women's club, is the city's oldest civic organization.
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Clawson
Nothing on our calendar in Clawson right now. Try the neighbors:
04 / Places
5 places on our site in Clawson
05 / What to do
If you’re in Clawson
Downtown Clawson
The corner of 14 Mile and Main, with its street clock, 1920s buildings, restaurants and shops. In 2026 a Saturday market ran here every other week from May 16 to August 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Official site ↗Clawson Historical Museum
A free local history museum in a three-story house built around 1919 at 41 Fisher Court, furnished in 1920s style, with an archive of more than 5,000 photos. From February 2026 it's open Wednesdays and Thursdays plus the first Saturday of each month, 2 to 5 p.m.
Official site ↗Clawson City Park
The city park, home to the Fourth of July carnival and fireworks.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Clawson through the years
- 1829
European American settlers found the community, first known as Pumachug and The Corners.
- 1880
The first post office opens on August 16, making the name Clawson official.
- 1899
The interurban railway from Detroit reaches Clawson.
- 1920
On May 29 the governor approves the charter and Clawson becomes a village.
- 1933
Clawson's Fourth of July tradition begins.
- 1940
Clawson becomes a city; after the war it grows fast, with 500 new homes built by 1949.
07 / Born here
3 people in our lexicon were born here
08 / People
Famous names from here
- David Robert Mitchell Filmmaker (It Follows), born in Clawson in 1974.
- Dan Scanlon Pixar director (Monsters University, Onward) who grew up in Clawson.
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Clawson city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clawson,_Michigan
- cityofclawson.com/your_government/historical_museum/clawson_history.php
- cityofclawson.com/your_government/historical_museum/index.php
- cityofclawson.com/your_community/community_events.php
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Robert_Mitchell
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Scanlon
- cityofclawson.com
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: −0.8 percent.
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